Dental filing tool

ABSTRACT

A dental filing tool having a handle easy to hold between fingers which arches over and secures at both ends a thin filing strip coated with some superfine abrasive material, especially but not limited to diamond dust, or alternatively a sharp cutting system along the edge or lateral surface. From hole-like openings at each end, the strip is fastened between each end of the handle with sufficient tension in the strip to create a rigid filing and grinding surface. On the outside edge of each vertical arm of the handle is a smooth flatten surface where to place fingers to hold the handle. The horizontal top arm of the handle that extends above the filing strip tapers in thickness from the top down towards the filing strip reducing in thickness to a beveled edge. The vertical arms of the handle also taper in thickness inwards towards the filing strip reducing in thickness to a beveled edge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to dental filing tool, more particularly to adental filing tool that holds a thin filing strip coated with superfineabrasive material or has a sharp cutting edge for efficient filing ofthe interproximal area and fitting of dental crowns, bridges, onlays orinlays.

The current conventional method for fitting dental crowns, bridges,onlays and inlays, herein referred to generally as restorations,involves the dental practitioner sliding colored carbon paper, which thethickness is the recommended measured distance between teeth, betweenthe interproximal area of the tooth and the restoration. The carbonpaper marks with carbon ink the proximal contact area where the twosurfaces of the teeth and/or restoration are too close, and then thepractitioner grinds the restoration with a rotary instrument to removeexcess material. This method is tedious, inefficient, and inexact. Thedental practitioner has to continually remove the restoration and grindthe heavy proximal contact surface until the fitting surface and shapeis achieved. The practitioner first must insert the carbon marker togauge the distance between the restoration and tooth, withdraw thecarbon marker, remove the restoration, and then grind the surface of therestoration marked by the carbon ink with a separate rotary instrumentor a freestanding grinding machine which often is in another room. Thenreturn to the patient to fit the restoration, and then start the processall over again until the desired distance between the restoration andthe adjacent teeth is achieved. It is a time consuming process and thereis possibility of over-grinding, in which case a whole other restorationmust be reconstructed to replace it which is expensive for the patientand the practitioner, not to mention inconvenient for the patient whosuffers for the delay and agony.

Another method employed is the stand alone use of a metal filing stripcoated with some superfine abrasive material. The metal filing strip isinserted between the interproximal area to file down the proximalcontact area of the crown for an accurate fit. Since the space betweenthe tooth and the crown, bridge, onlay, and inlay must not be too closenor too spaced apart the practitioner must file increments at a time.These steps are repeated until the desired distance between the toothand the restoration is achieved. Because the filing strip is extremelythin, narrow, and malleable, it is necessary for the practitioner tocreate rigid tension in the strip by holding it taunt at opposite endswith fingers from both hands. Unfortunately holding the filing strip insuch a manner is cumbersome in the patient's mouth and impedes thepractitioner from achieving desired angles and restricts range of motionto effectively file. Especially when the patient is receiving crowns,bridges, onlays, or inlays in the back of the mouth where it isconsiderably more difficult to access, it is difficult for thepractitioner to file since both hands are needed to hold tension in thestrip and often a patient's mouth is too small or cannot open wideenough to accommodate comfortably. As a result, the patient must endurestrenuous stretching of the lips and jaw area. Often a practitionerstruggles to find the best placement for fingers to pinch the strip tocreate sufficient tension while attempting to minimize the restrictingpresence of both hands in the patient's mouth. This method isinefficient, tiresome for the practitioner, and uncomfortable for thepatient. Moreover, because of the difficulty involved handling thefiling strip, often patients sustain suffer small cuts due to the sharpedges of the strip coming in contact with gums and lips while filing thetooth or restoration.

In order to solve the existing problems with both of the current methodsfor interproximal grinding and adjustment between restorations andteeth, it is the object of the present invention to provide a tool whichhas a handle that secures a filing strip with sufficient tension whichcan be held by one hand between opposable fingers. This allows for thepractitioner to maneuver within the patient's mouth with easier reachand greater range of motion for more time efficient and effective filingand grinding of the interproximal area with greater comfort for thepatient for a quicker fitting of crowns, bridges, onlays, and inlays.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a filing toolwhich secures a filing strip with sufficient tension, that is easy tohold and maneuver while inserted in a patient's mouth to efficiently andeffectively file and grind between teeth and the crown, bridge, onlay,or inlay for an accurate fitting.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a filing tool thatinflicts the least amount of discomfort and injury to patient's gums andlips during filing.

Accordingly, the present invention is comprised of a handle made of aformable material, not limited to but like plastic, which has ahorizontal arm element with a first vertical arm extending downward fromits first end and a second vertical arm extending from its second endforming an arch. Between the first and second vertical arms a filingstrip is secured at each end tautly with tension. The horizontal armwhich arches above and flush with the filing strip from its top edgetapers downwards towards the filing strip reducing in thickness to afine beveled edge. Additionally, the first and second vertical arms ofthe handle also taper in thickness from the outside edge inwards towardsthe filing strip reducing in thickness to a fine beveled edge. Theoutside wider edges of the first and second vertical arms have a flattensurface area on which opposable fingers may be placed to hold theinvention to facilitate an easy sawing back and forth movement to file.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will be fully understood from the following descriptionconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings included.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment constructedaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal front view of preferred embodiment shown in FIG.1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section view of the preferred embodimentaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of preferred embodiment from the under side of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is an alternate embodiment of the filing strip with a sawtoothcutting edge of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an alternate embodiment of the filing strip with multiplesharp edged perforations along the lateral surface of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view depicting the insertion of the filing toolinterproximally.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The dental filing tool 1 shown as preferred embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2,comprises of handle component 10 made of a formable material, notlimited to but like plastic, which has a horizontal arm element 11 witha first vertical arm 12 extending downward from its first end and asecond vertical arm 13 extending from its second end forming an archedstructure. Between the first 12 and second vertical arms 13 is a filingstrip 15 secured at each of its ends tautly with tension.

The one or both lateral sides of the filing strip 15 are coated withsome superfine abrasive material 16, especially but not limited todiamond dust. The filing strip 15 utilized in the dental filing tool 1is of the appropriate thickness to be inserted into the interproximalarea between teeth and/or crowns, bridges, onlays, or inlays, generallyreferred to as restorations.

The outside wider edges of the vertical arms 12, 13 have identical flatsurface areas 14 on which opposable fingers may be placed to adeptlyhold the dental filing tool 1 to facilitate an easy sawing back andforth movement to file, eliminating the cumbersome need to grip withboth hands.

In the construction of the dental filing tool 1 according to FIG. 2, thefiling strip 15 has hole-like openings 19 at each of its ends to whicheach opening is fastened securely between the ends of the first 12 andsecond 13 vertical arms of the handle component 10 with sufficienttension creating a rigid filing and grinding surface.

Additionally in FIG. 3 the horizontal arm element 11 of the handle 10which positions parallel above and flush with the filing strip 15 tapersequilaterally downwards from its top thick edge towards the filing strip15 reducing in thickness to a narrower beveled edge. This facilitatesmaximum reach and access of the filing strip 15 within the interproximalarea between teeth and/or restorations. Beveling the edge of thehorizontal arm 11 maintains structural strength of the handle 10 whileeliminating unnecessary presence of material which otherwise couldinterfere with how adeptly the filing strip 15 maneuvers or how deep thefiling strip 15 could reach within the area where the gums andteeth/restorations meet.

Using the same means to facilitate maximum reach and access, FIG. 4depicts the first 12 and second 13 vertical arms of the handle 10 alsotaper in thickness from the outside edge inwards towards the filingstrip 15 reducing in thickness to a narrower beveled edge. The bevelingof the vertical arms 12, 13 allows the practitioner to achieve moreacute filing angles and prolonged surface contact with the filing strip15 while filing in a back and forth sawing motion on the proximalsurfaces of the teeth and/or restorations.

Depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6 are alternative embodiments of the dentalfiling tool 10 having a filing strip 15. In FIG. 5 the alternateembodiment of the filing strip 15 has a cutting edge 17, including butnot limited to sawteeth or serrated system provided along thelongitudinal edge. In FIG. 6, the alternate embodiment of the filingstrip has multiple sharp edged perforations 18 along the lateral surfaceof the filing strip 15.

The dental filing tool 1 is used in the following manner as depicted inFIG. 7. Initially the user holds the handle 10 placing opposable fingerson each flat surface area 14 of the vertical arms 12, 13 and aligns thefiling strip 15 portion above the interproximal space between the tooth20 and the restoration 21. The handle 10 is used to firmly insert thefiling strip 15 into the interproximal space until stopped by proximalsurface contact between tooth 20 and restoration 21. At which moment theuser may, with applied pressure, commence a back and forth sawing motionwith the slight movement of the opposable fingers or wrist to file downthe proximal surface to create the appropriate interproximal distance.

It should be noted that while the handle component 10 maintainssufficient tension in the filing strip 15 to create a rigid surface, theslight malleability of the strip 15 still allows the user to manipulateit with directional pressure applied through the handle 10 to form toany concavities along interproximal surfaces of teeth. As the filingtool 1 is pulled back and forth between the area of proximal surfacecontact the abrasive lateral surface of the filing strip 15 gentlyremoves enamel or restoration material in whatever conservative oraggressive increments desired by the user in relation to the repetitivefiling motions and applied pressure.

It should also be appreciated that the beveling of the horizontal armelement 11 and vertical arm elements 12, 13 of the dental filing tool 1is angled to such a degree to allow optimal access to the interproximalarea between teeth and/or restorations. But while still maintainingadequate thickness to help prevent against the filing strip 15 slippingtoo deep inflicting undesirable cuts, nicks, and other injuries againstgums.

Moreover, it should also be appreciated that the handle component 10contains the filing strip 15 within a protective frame shielding thepatient from suffering ambient cuts and nicks of the gums, lips, andcheek walls while the user is repositioning, re-angling, or moving thedental filing tool 1 within the mouth.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together may also find useful application in other types ofmethods differing from the types described above.

While the present invention has been described with reference tospecific embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended tobe limited to the details described above. Those skilled in the artunderstand that various alterations, modifications, substitutions, oromissions of the forms and details of the preferred embodiment may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of this preventinvention. Therefore, it should be clearly understood that thedescriptions and illustrations of the preferred embodiment are only tofacilitate a clearer understanding of the invention and not used tounduly limit the scope of the present invention.

1. A dental filing tool which comprises an arch shaped handle componentand a strip.
 2. The handle component comprises a horizontal arm elementwith the first vertical arm attached at the first end of the horizontalarm and the second vertical arm attached at the second end of thehorizontal arm forming an arch structure.
 3. The strip is coated with asuperfine abrasive material, or sharp-edged perforations along thelateral surface.
 4. The strip is alternatively having a sharp cuttingedge system like saw teeth.
 5. The strip has hole-like openings at thefirst and second ends.
 6. The strip is secured between the end of thefirst vertical arm and the end of the second vertical arm.
 7. The firstend of the strip is fastened inside of the end of the first verticalarm.
 8. The second end of the strip is fastened inside of the end of thesecond vertical arm.
 9. The first end of the strip is embedded in themiddle of the end of the first vertical arm, when the melted formablematerial like food grade polypropylene but not limited is injected intothe molded cavity form of handle component and hardened.
 10. The secondend of the strip is embedded in the middle of the end of the secondvertical arm, when the melted formable material like food gradepolypropylene but not limited is injected into the molded cavity form ofhandle component and hardened.
 11. The first and second vertical arms ofthe handle component have flat and smoothed surface on the outside ofthe arms for finger rest.